Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Epoxy resin systems

Here you can exchange your experience and datas about your home build boards
aeberl
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 659
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:57 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Epoxy resin systems

Postby aeberl » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:47 am

Which is the best resin system manufacturer / brand for hand layup vacuum bagging? Wich brands / manufacturers should be avoided?

BWD
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 3848
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:37 am
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: Epoxy resin systems

Postby BWD » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:21 pm

Most anything will work.
Choice is more by physical properties and process particularities than brand name.
i.e. hardener type -cycloaliphatic or straight chain, speed -"Fast" v. "slow," resin modulus -max. impact v. flex v. stiffness, etc.
The best thing to do is look hard at the full list of properties for the resin systems you are thinking of and choose which meets your needs that way. Keep in mind there are variations within a brand or product line depending on speed, etc. For example the hardeners are naturally different between fast and slow, but with some brands, it is a really different type of hardener, others not as different. Where this usually comes into play is if you have concerns about things like "blush" (a residue on the laminate) or about skin sensitization (mainly a worry for people with other allergies, fair hair and Euro background.). General advice: unless you are in a hurry, slow hardeners are nice -less harsh, more time to get the job done before it kicks off....
But...since you ask about brand,
Having used West, MAS, System Three and Resin Research, I prefer Resin Research.
One reason is the 2:1 mix ratio is harder to screw up than west's 3.x or 5:1, another is the cycloaliphatic hardener, which is non-sensitizing, another is it's a little cheaper than west, and finally, if you have questions, call the number on the bottle and the proprietor, Greg Loehr, picks up the phone (or at least he did a couple years ago when I called).
He is quite knowledgeable, and "kind of a big deal" in the surf guru world. :thumb:
Or just grab a gallon of something and wing it.

gbleck
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 546
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:39 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Epoxy resin systems

Postby gbleck » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:51 pm

I use west system because my local shops cary it. It would be nice to work with a system that you don't have to wet sand between layers to remove the amine blush and mixes 1:1 or 2:1.

frankm1960
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1229
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:48 pm
Local Beach: -Bayshore, at the end sea st. on saint John's west side, bay of fundy.
-Saints rest beach, at the end of sandy point road, irving nature park, saint john, west side.
Gear: Kites: 12m LF Mig, 9m LF Mig, 5m SS Fuel
Boards: LF proof 151cm, Real Wind 144cm, home made light wind board 160 x 50
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Epoxy resin systems

Postby frankm1960 » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:20 pm

gbleck wrote:I use west system because my local shops cary it. It would be nice to work with a system that you don't have to wet sand between layers to remove the amine blush and mixes 1:1 or 2:1.
I've used West and East systems, East being a Canadian product I believe. Both are very similar, the east is a bit runnier and I think you can use the same pumps for both. Both leave that annoying wax after a curing. I never did a wet sand to remove the wax, I jused soap and water and a nylon scrub pad. Once I used Amonia and a rag but that was to stinky :)

Morres
Medium Poster
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:28 pm
Brand Affiliation: Gaastra
Location: Netherlands
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Epoxy resin systems

Postby Morres » Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:38 pm

I've used SPS ampreg 22, was pleased with the result, but then: i'm easily pleased ;) Didn't know back then what I was doing, but the results were good.
Later I found out it was a quit expensive epoxy resin, but I got it really cheap. I bought 2Kg's back then, only used 500gram, I sold the rest of it for the same price I bought the whole 2kg :P

I now bought a clear epoxy, but it's a rebranded one, so don't know the initial manufacturer :(

User avatar
redskykiter
Frequent Poster
Posts: 324
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2003 12:50 am
Local Beach: Maumee Bay State Park
Gear: All Slingshot...RPX and UFO
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Re: Epoxy resin systems

Postby redskykiter » Sat Nov 28, 2009 1:37 pm

West System does not need to be wet sanded or washed between coats as long as you don't let the bottom coat cure. Amine blush comes from complete curing. I believe it is also a much stronger (chemical) bond if you don't let it cure.

They have a great website with lots of info:
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/use-guides/.


Return to “Gear Builders”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 54 guests